Communication partner appliance with automatic send mode activation

Abstract

A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver at a time other than during a transmission of the NFC command signal from the other communication partner appliance to the receiver. The processor controls a power supply element based on a determination by the detector whether the carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication partner appliance comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a near-field communication (NFC) command signal to another communication partner appliance according to an active communication mode, wherein the NFC command signal includes a request for data from the other communication partner appliance; and 
 a processor coupled to a generator and the transmitter, wherein the processor is configured to switch from the active communication mode to a passive communication mode in response to a determination that a response signal is not received from the other communication partner appliance within a first time period based upon a predetermined number of oscillations of a carrier signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication partner appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of oscillations of the carrier signal is between 10 and 90. 
     
     
       3. The communication partner appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined number of oscillations of the carrier signal is between 20 and 60. 
     
     
       4. The communication partner appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined number of oscillations of the carrier signal is substantially 30. 
     
     
       5. The communication partner appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit a second activation signal after completion of a second time period based upon a second number of oscillations of the carrier signal. 
     
     
       6. The communication partner appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the second time period is substantially three times the first time period. 
     
     
       7. The communication partner appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the second time period is substantially four times the first time period. 
     
     
       8. The communication partner appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the second number of oscillations of the carrier signal is substantially 60.